LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

For many years now, Abbey Lincoln has been recognized as a strong and strong-minded, racially aware and rhythmically secure artist. But early in her career--as a striking-looking young woman making the transition from being a sleek supper-club performer--it was difficult to gain acceptance as a true jazz singer. This seems hard to understand now, listening to her treatments of material by such as Duke Ellington and Kurt Weill, accompanied by a galaxy of players (who always knew her worth) like Max Roach, Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton, Kenny Dorham, Stanley Turrentine, Sam Jones, and Philly Joe Jones. Afro-Blue, Lonely House, Let Up, Thursday's Child; Brother, Where Are You?; Laugh, Clown, Laugh; Come Sunday; Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise; Lost in the Stars, Long as You're LivinG